Castelli Chiro Due Glove

Mid-weight Windstopper autumn/winter gloves with good warmth for their bulk -the price is steep, though

Weight:

108g

Contact:

www.saddleback.co.uk

Castelli Chiro Due Glove

810Mat Brett

Castelli Chiro Due Glove

Castelli's Chiro Due gloves are good-quality mid-weight gloves for cool autumn/winter days - although not for the very coldest rides.

The Chiros owe much of their performance to the fact that they're made from a Gore Windstopper fabric throughout - and that includes the cuffs. No cold air gets through it. Plus, although these gloves aren't designed to be waterproof, no rain gets through the Windstopper fabric either. It can soak through the seams but not through the fabric itself.

More warmth comes courtesy of Thinsulate insulation that sits between the glove upper and your hand - but not on the less exposed underside . The 40g variety of this fine-fibred synthetic insulation doesn't provide as much warmth as the more weighty versions but it has the advantage of being extremely low bulk.

Castelli give the temperature range of these gloves as 5-10C. I agree with this although, as ever, it'll come down to the individual. (By the way, last time we checked the Castelli website it gave a temperature range of 10-18C for these gloves. That's a mistake.) If you buy a pair with enough room you can always wear liner gloves underneath for extra warmth. With no cold air getting though the Chiros, a pair of thin merino gloves inside will make these useable when the temperature is a few degrees cooler.

The palms and the underside of the fingers are textured Pittard's leather that grips very well and there's a small amount of padding in there. And it really is a small amount. I found that fine on shorter rides but I wanted mitts underneath for extra comfort on rides over about 90mins or so. Again, it'll all come down to your personal preferences on that score.

You get good reinforcement in that section between your thumb and forefinger (does that part of your hand have a proper name? It should) and a useful microsuede panel on the back of each thumb to take care of all your wiping-away needs. That stripe across the back of the hand is reflective and the subtle Scorpion logo is a neat addition.

The only negative comment I have to make is that I often found it difficult to get my hands back inside these gloves if I took them off mid-ride. Say you get a puncture or have to delve into your pockets for some change; you have to take your gloves off. Although the Windstopper fabric is breathable, the soft fleece lining and your hands will inevitably be a little bit damp, and that makes things difficult. It's something you find with loads of close-fitting gloves. Wearing a stretchy liner glove cures it... but you might not want that extra warmth or bulk.

Ah, I do have one other little moan. There are two tiny holes in each of the cuffs where the little bits of plastic that held the merchandise tags went. They're hardly noticeable but still... Grrr!

Verdict

Mid-weight Windstopper autumn/winter gloves with good warmth for their bulk -the price is steep, though

road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Chiro Due Glove

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Here's what Castelli say, "Our Chiro glove has been a favorite for years and now gets an update for even better fit and better insulation on the palm making it suitable for a wider range of conditions.

WindStopper fabric throughout

Made for comfort in cold weather riding

Lightly padded textured leather palm

Microsuede thumb panel

Reflective piping"

There's really not much insulation on the palm although the wind won't get through there. All the Thinsulate is on the back of the hands and the fingers. Those are the exposed bits so it makes sense.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The main fabric is from the Gore Windstopper family which provides lightweight windproofing. Thinsulate 40g provides exceptional warmth for its bulk because of the fine fibres used and their density.

Rate the product for quality of construction:

9/10

Rate the product for performance:

8/10

Very impressive, my only problem being getting the gloves on again after taking them off mid-ride.

Rate the product for durability:

9/10

Well made using excellent materials. Durability won't be a problem

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:

8/10

This isn't a mark for their weight as such; more for the amount of warmth they provide given their light weight and lack of bulk.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:

9/10

Rate the product for value:

5/10

Windstopper fabrics are generally pricey and Thinsulate is usually a little more expensive than an unbranded equivalent. It's all good stuff... but you're paying a lot for mid-weight gloves

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Comfortable with a very good level of warmth

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The warmth and comfort for the lack of bulk

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I've mentioned that I struggled to get them on after taking them off mid-ride. Plus, the price is a hard one to swallow

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? I wouldn't spend this much on gloves except for deep-winter insulators

Would you recommend the product to a friend? As above

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40 Height: 190cm Weight: 74kg

I usually ride:My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding,

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

Mat has worked for loads of bike magazines over the past 20 years, and been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. He's been road.cc technical editor for seven years, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a past winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer.

2 comments

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Scottyroyal[19 posts]5 years ago

0 likes

£55 isn’t that expensive for winter gloves! I’ve got a pair of these and they are spot on!
Price is pretty comparable to other brands, gore etc and far cheaper than Assos.
As cold hands can spoil the best of rides it’s well worth investing in your gloves!